Disappearing screen for automobiles



w. G. HARDEN DISAPPEARING SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Aug. 12, 14930.

2 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, '1926 W1 .HUI

Aug. 12, 1930. w. G. HARDEN DISAPPEARING SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES FiledJan. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1930 Unirse STATESPATENT oFric/E WILLIAM G. `I-Iri'TRVDEN, 0F ST. JOSEBH, MISSOUBIDISAPPEABING SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBLES Application filed January 4, 1926.Serial No. 79,249.

. Thisv invention relates to improvements in view illustrated in Figure2with the windscreen constructions for automotive vehicles. shieldelevated and open, and the screen in The primary object of thisinvention is the position over the ,opening for the purpose of provisionof an improved type of screen conpermitting air to pass directly.intothe v el5 struction, for cooperative use with the windhicle from infront of the cowl. 55

shield structure of conventional automotive Figure 4 is a fragmentarysectional View vehicles, preferably-being ofthe sliding type, Ytakenthrough a corner of the improved andvof a nature to disappear into thebody of screen, in place in the windshield constructhe vehicle when notin use, so as to be eletion. f h a l@ vated when in use and when thewindshield Figure 5 a fragmentary verticalsectional 50 is raised; thescreen disappearing when the view taken through thel improved screen,windshield is closed. showing its l construction` and cooperation Y Afurther object of this invention is the with the .windshield yas tomounting. provision of a disappearing type of screen Figure 6is amodified `form of the invenl for cooperative use with the windshieldtion, showing a windshield of the vertical 65 structures of conventional`automotive `veslidable type, with an 'improved screen in a hicles,preferably being of the sliding disapcooperativerelation therewith, forindependpearing type which cooperates with the conent verticaladjustment. ventional sliding windshield, and which op- Figure 7 is asectional View taken through r crates in a novel cooperative relationtherethe improved type of windshield illustrated 70 with to provide arelatively simple, economiin Figure 6, showing the screen thereofelecal, and compact type of screen structure vated over the opening ofthe windshield. which is renewable, and which is very du- Figure 8 is afragmentary front elevation rable, capable of resisting head on windsinof details of theimproved. windshield and 2,5 cident to vehicletravel, and of the fine mesh screen construction of the form illustratedin 75 type to keep insects and ,other foreign parti- Figure 6. y y clesfrom passing into the vehicle during Figure 9 is a sectional viewtakensubsta-ndrivingvof the saine with the windshieldopen. tially on theline 9-9 of Figure 8.

Other objects and` advantages of. this in- Figure vl() is an enlargedfragmentary secvention will be apparent during the course of tional viewtaken through a marginal porso the following detailed description.tion-of the improved screen, showing the conln the accompanyingdrawings, forming a struction thereof. p i I part of this specification,and .wherein similar Inr the drawings, wherein for the purpose ofreference characters designate corresponding illustration are shownpreferred and modiparts throughoutthe several views, fied forms of theinvention, the letterA ymay 85 Figure 1 is a front yelevation ofthewindgenerallyv designate an `automotive vvehicle, shield construction,and jdash of the convenwhich may include a windshield construction.tional motor vehicle, showing kthe vertically B having a screen Cattached therewith for movable type of windshield, with the iinmovement.The `modified form of invention proved disappearing screen cooperativelymay include a windshield D and an vindepend- 90 connected therewith formovement to permit eiitly movable screen construction E Lcooperofventilation of thepvehicle when the windatively related therewith.shield is vopen, by providing a screen for said The windshields B and Dare .preferably opening. l, of the vertically slida-ble type, each ofthe Figure 9. is arvertical sectional view taken same embodying amechanism F to cause `the 95 throughthe improvedwindshield and screenelevation or lowering of the same to open construction illustratedinnFigure 1, showing the opening at the windshield or to close the thescreen collapsed `and the windshield opening at the windshield. In thecase of the closed. windshieldB the screen C is attached there- Figure 3is @pensif-pests similari@ .the ivthafor )movement by the-operatingmecha- 100 nism F, but in the form of invention wherein the screen Eisindependently movable with respect to its cooperating windshield D, anoperatiilig mechanism H is providedfor the screen preferably being aduplicate of the mechanism F for operating the wind shield, but locateddifferent-ly. i

The windshield B includes the glass plate 15, having the channel shapedframe l6 mar ginally protecting theA same. It is vertically slidableupon the vehicle byhaving the side margin portions thereof= slidablydisposed 1n the facing grooves of guide standards or posts 18 and 19,which are suitably connected to' the body of the vehicle, in mannerwhich may conform to conventional structures. The operating mechanism Fof the windshield B is suitably montedwithin a casing 2d or behindspaced walls, and in the space 21fbetween these walls of the casing thewindshieldiB is adapted 'to-elevate in order to open thewindshield, andprovide an opening between the lower edge of the same and the body ofthe vehicle. The operating means F is of the yconventional type andoperates to elevate the windshieldB upon turning the crank 23 thereof.At its lower edge the windshield B is preferably concave to conform tothe arcuation of the cowl 25 of the shield of the vertically `adjustablety e, an air shield 27 may be provided above t ie instrument board,`andmay be integral with said instrument board, and at its upper margin thesame conforms in outline with respect tothe lower margin of thewindshield D. That is, the upper marginal portion of the air shield 27is convex as shown in Figure l of the drawings, andiwhen closed thewindshield B at its lower marginal portion overlaps'in front ofthisshield 27 below the upper convex edge thereof, for a considerabledistance, 'so that when the windshield B is opened to a limited extent,but yet with its loweremarg'inal edge below the top edge of the shield27, air will be` directed downwardly behindI the shield 27,`and downwardto the drivers compartment. A sealing gasket 30, comprising a piece ofiiexible rubber or the like is disposed on the cowl 25, with a flexiblemrglgfportion 'abutting the outer side of the win 'ield B, and inposition to abut the 'Screen C, to provide aleak-proof connection,

withoutinterfering with the positioning with the elevation or loweringofthe windshield B ,andL screen C..

" T118 Semen C comprises a fine mesh screen bodyl, cut toconcavo-convexform, having tlfeupper and lower convex and concave marthereo'f andv thesidemargins thereof embeddedin a.reinforcinf'g"-v bead 36, preferfoflead; the bead 36 being of such dimansion that a screw'lthreadedopeningor other-"passageway may be provided there- Inthe conventionalvehicle having a wind-V through without weakening the structure thereof.This screen C is of a renewable nature, and the screen` and bead 36comprise the renewable part, as they are welded or otherwise connectedtogether. The bead portions 36 of the screen C are adapted to bereceivedr in the groove of a channel shaped frame 37, which extends inconforming relation with the screen about all of the margin portionsthereof.

In order to accommodate the screen C, the channel shaped supporting'posts 18 of the windshield are extended below the windshield Vat theirlower ends 39, and the grooves of the said posts, at the portions 39 mayreceive the side margins of the frame 37 of the screen C therein, forslidable movement.

The channel frame 37 of the screen C is connected withfthe bead portions36 of the screen by means of countersunk screws 40 which aretransversely extended thru the legs yof the channel shaped frame 37 andthru the bead 36. At the upper frame portionalong the top margin of thescreen C, facing or finishing strips 4l are placed at opposite sides ofthe frame 37, held in place by the screws 40, and which may be ofaluminum or other material, to furnish a finished appearance for thescreen at the connection thereof with the windshield B.

The windshield frame 16 is continued across the bottom of the screenframe 37, as illustrated in Figure 5, as means for rigidly connectingthe windshield and screen.

' As is illustrated in Figure 2, when the windshield B is closed, thelower margin of the windshield, at the frame 16 thereof, lies along theweather strip 30, and the windshield is closed, and no air cancirculateinto the vehicle from the outside. However, upon operation of the meansF, the windshield D is vertically slid upward into the passageway 21 andthe lower edge of the shield B elevates above the cowl 25. As the screenC is connected with the windshield B, the same is likewise elevated, andobstructs the opening between the lower edge of the windshield B and thetop of the cowl, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, so thatdepending upon the elevation of the windshield the wind may enter thedriver-s compartment directly over the air shield 27, or may pass intothe vehicle compartment beneath the air shield 27.

It is to be noted asan important feature of this invention that when thewindshield is closed the screen C entirely disappears behind the shield27 or instrument board 28, and the same is not visible and is in aprotectedrelation, which is very desirable in automotivev vehicles,since it is then in position where the same cannot become dama ed bypassengers or mechanics. The screen is of a height equal to the heightto which the 1 windshield B may be adjusted.

thereof in a suitable frame 5l. `shaped supporting posts 52 and 53 arepro- Referring to the modified form of inventionl illustrated in FiguresQ6 to l() inclusive,

the windshield D is similar to the construction of the windshield `B,and it .comprises a plate glass body 50, enclosed at the margins Channelvided at opposite sides of the-vehicle,`having facing grooves forreceiving the side frame portions 5.1 of the windshield D. Thewindshield D is of the vertical slidable type, and at its vupper end issupported in a suitable .casing 55, by operating mechanism F whichincludes la hand crank 56 which the operator rotatesin order to slidethe windshield along its supports 5,2 and'53 into elevated or loweredrelation with respect to theV cowl 25. The lower margin of thewindshield body plate is prefer-ably concavedat 58, in conformingrelation to the convexity ,of the cowl 25 the latter preferably having agasket 59 thereon for receiving the lower margin of y the windshield inabutting leak-seal connection- The vehicle A upon which the windshield Dis appliedmay include also an instrument board 60 and an air shield 6ldisposed at the inside'of the drivers compartment,`and the lsaid airshield 61 at its upper edge 62 being convex, on the same radius as thatdefining the radius or' the topY of the ,cowl or thebottom margin o-fthe Windshield D; the upper marginal portion of the air shield 61extendabove the cowl, and in spaced relation therewith, whereby thelower edge of the windshield D may be elevated slightlyv but yet havingits lower edge disposed below the top edge of the air shield 6l todirectair thru the opening left by elevating the windshield, downwardlyin vfront of the'air shield 6 1, and V around the instrument board intothe compartment of the vehicle.

Referring to the construction of the screen E, the same' followssomewhat the construcofthe screen C above described, and it includeslthe concave-convex shaped screen ,bedr 6.5, effin@ mesh. gauze, thesld@ @dees 0f which, as well as the top convex edge and lower Iconcaveedge, of which are provided with lead or analogous metal reinforcingbeads 66, to whlchthe material ofthe screen body 65, at the marginsthereof, may be weldejchlte provide a renewable screen, which and 7 1are provided at opposite sides of the vehicle, in the same plane as thechannel posts 52 and 53 respectively, but offset rearwardly therefrom,towards the drivers compartment of the vehicle, and which channel shapedposts and 71 are suitably connected to the Jody .of the vehicle, `ontothe channels 52 and 53, and prvide facing grooves which slidably receivethe side frame portions of the screen E, to limit the sliding movementof the screen E to a vertical plane offset rearwardly to the plane ofthe windshield D, as'

illustrated in Figures 6 and 9 of the drawin The channel shaped guideposts 70 and sl are extended below the top edge of the air shield 6l,and behind the salne and behind the instrument board 60, and at theirupper ends they may be extended above the `top edge of the air screen 62to theiproper height.

.Ordinarily only the upper frame portion of the screen. frame 67 will bevisible, and this portion is preferred to provide with appropriatefinishing strips at opposite sides of the frame 67 secured by the screws69; said linishing strips preferably being aluminum or other strips 79,which mayA be provided on any portion of the frame of the screen E, asillustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings.

At its upper edge the screen E may be pro-` vided with an arcuate strip78 which may cooperate against the windshield to'provide a leak-proofjoint. y

Referring to the means H which operates the screen Eindependently withrespect to movement of the windshield D, thesame'includes a transverselyslidable rack 80 -having teeth along the upper edge thereof, which issupported by suitable brackets 81 Afor sliding in a horizontallinetransversely between the supporting posts 70 and'71, the brackets 8lbeing carried 'in .suitable manner by the rear surface of the instrumentboard or air shield, or upon other location of the framework of theautomotive vehicle. The screen frame along the 4lower margin thereofisprovided with loop brackets 83 and84, providing elongated .slots 85extending longitudinally of the screen E, adj acentthe. ends thereof.

Armsv87 and 88 are k respectively pivoted at 89 and 9() upon the airscreen 61,01' cowl construction` the free .ends offwhich are linturnedto provide projections 91 which ride. within the slots 85. Upon the pin89 ofthe arm 87 is provided a gear 92 keyed therewith,and inV meshingrelation with a gear 94: which meshes with the teethof v.therack 80.Thepin 9() providingthe pivotv for thev arm 88 has a gear directly keyedthereto which directly meshes with the teeth .of the rack 8.0, so thatit canbe seen upon sliding .of the rack 80 the Iarms 87 vand 8,8 will.always be moved counter to each other, Ielevating .the screen E orlowering the same. v i

The yoperatingmeans H kfurthermore in- ,clrds e @rank .handle ,9.9dethblsllren l'maereen construction has been provided for The operatingmeans H, with the exception of the' crank 99 and its connected shaftproject'ibn, is hidden forwardly of the air shield Glind the instrumentboard 60, and the connection thereof with the screen E is always ,uhidden, and in an outof the way position where the same is not visibleduring the elevating or lowering Vposition of the screen E. l. From-theforegoing description of this invention it is apparent that a novel typeof Wlantomobile' windshieldstructures, the same vbeing of lthedisappearing type, when not in and he com actly arranged in a novellocation an wrelation with respect to the @windshield and automobilebody construction.

"Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement' of varts ma bemade to the form of invention erein s own and descr1bed,

`without departing from the spirit of the same "or, the scope of t eclaims.

I claim: 'f

1. In combined'windshield and screen con- St'llton .fOr Vehicles thecombination with a vehicle including ,a body having an up-Av'vardlybulging lconvex cowl construction, supporting posts at oppositesides of the cowl extending above theconvex surface of the a 'windshieldandscreen construction c u 'slidable' upon said posts, the screenconstruction being disposed below the windshield construction, the lowermargin of the windshield construction being lconcaved, and the screenlength having a concavo-convex appear- 40 acejadapted to screen thespace between the lower margin ofthe windshield and the top of the cowlwhen the .windshield is elevated 1 above the cowl.

2.1m a combined windshield and screen leonstruction the combination withan automxnoble `body includingA a hood, supporting .posta of channelformation secured to the atopposite sides of the hood having fac- 'finggrooves therein, said posts extending be- Al"`low-;fthe hoodlinto aconcealed space in the Y *,the hood-for Ventilating purposes, and amovhegy1 of the vehicle, a windshield slidable in grooves of saidsupporting posts, means f @up ted by theupper ends of said posts'for e1fjzing'the windshield to provide an open- ;belciathe margin thereof andthe top of ablescreen at the lower portion of saidfwind- ``shield and atits. ends being y slidable in the grooves 'of said posts,-adapted toextend across @fthe jventilating opening when the windshield .iselevatedandutro extend into the concealed spice the body when the windshield isYcloeedever `said hood.

` 3L In an automobile windshield and screen construction the combinationwith an automobile bod su ortin osts carried' by the body atthgsidgtherefl a Windshield constructionp'movably carried by said posts.to partially open or entirely close the opening between said posts, ashield instrument board, means to detachably connect the latter to theautomobile bod facing the drivers compartment to provi e a spaceforwardly thereof between the same and the automobile body openingupwardly towards said windshield, a screen member, means carried by theautomobile body for slidably supporting the screen member forsubstantially vertical sliding whereby the same may be concealed in thespace forwardly of said shield and instrument board or lifted upwardlytherefrom over the opening provided when the windshield is opened.

4.V In a combined windshield and screen construction for vehicles thecombination of akvehicle body including a cowl having an adjacentconcealed space immediately forward of the drivers compartment with anupper opening facing upwardly from the cowl, supporting posts carried bythe body at opposite sides of the cowl, a Windshield movable upon saidposts, a screen, means to slidably Support y the screen rearwardly ofthe plane of the windshield for concealment in said space or forelevation therefrom to extend across'the opening left by the windshieldwhen the lat` ter is open, and means carried by the vehicle body facingthe drivers compartment for elevating the screen member or lowering thesame with respect to said space.

5. In al combined windshield and screen construction for automobiles thecombination of an automobile body including a cowl having an adjacentconcealed space immediatelyforward of the drivers compartment with anupper opening facing upwardly from the cowl, supporting posts carried bythe automobile body at opposite sides of the cowl, a

windshield movable upon said posts, means carried by the posts to raiseand lower the windshield with respect to the cowl, a screen, means toslidably support the screen in a plane rearwardly of the plane of thewindshield in such relation that it may be moved into said space abovementioned or elevated therefrom to extend across the opening left by thewindshield when the latter is open, a weather strip between the upperedge of the screen and the lower margin of the windshield, and meanscarried by the vehicle body adjacent said screen and facing the driverscompartment for elevating the screen or lowering the same in anindependent relation with respect to thc windshield.

" 'WILLIAM G. HARDEN.

